Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-31


A few of the more officious of her friends
undertook to give her some good advice on
this score, at which, though she took it
quite amiably, Miss Julia smiled. Her
future plan of action was quite decided on
in her own mind already. As much as it
lay in woman to be good wife, that wife
she intended to be- 81 will learn to love
him with all my heart" she said to her.
self repeatedly; che shall never have to
regret that he kept constant to me-" And
then she would take good look at herself
in the glass, smiling as she turned away,
and declaring she was more vain now than
at any former time OF her life.
Mr.. Penberthy had rather dwelt on his
good means and the important position he
held. He had suggested, in language as
delicate as he could command, that, seeing
it was essential for his wife to go a great
deal into society, some of the expenses of
the trousseau should fall to his share. But
this Miss Julia would not allow; neither
would she permit him to pay her passage
money "When | am his wife," she said.
81 will accept everything at his hands, but
not now. Besides, by selling the little
property | have / can amply provide all |
can possibly need"
Most of the many who, prior to her de-
parture, when to inspect the pretty things
provided for the outfit, thought that Miss
Julia was rather more serious than was de-
manded by the occasion. The good-natured
fancied she dreaded the journey; that she
felt going so far away from all her friends;
the less kindly hoped she was sufficiently
thankful for what Providence had done
for her" Very few girls who had refused
one man after another as she had done got
in the end such a chance as had been given
to her."
Well, at length the day of departure
came, but not before a little disappoint-
ment had arisen in the failure of the lady
under whose wing Miss Julia's journey
was to have been made. At the eleventh
hour an extension of leave had been
granted to her husband, therefore their
departure would be delayed for three
months longer. Under these circumstances
Miss Julia had to go alone.
Her courage bad sunk very low by the
time she found herself on board the vessel
Her family and friends she had parted
with; the brother-in-law, who had come
down to see her start, had returned in the
tender ashore, and she was left alone
straining her streaming eyes toward the
friendly land she seemed to be leaving for
ever Memories thick and fast crowded
on her-a terrible sense of being utterly
alone took possession of her-and, unable
to check the sobs that would come, Miss
Robinson hurried down to her cabin below
and for some days nothing more was seen
of her.
They had left Southampton on Tues
day. By the following Sunday the ma
jority of the passengers made an effort to
take their places at dinner, Miss Julia
among them. Her neighbor, well-sea.
soned old Indian who had made the voyage
many times before, vouchsafed her but little
attention until some hitch in the serving
afforded him rather more leisure; then
with the cross-questioning air of County
Court Judge, he began:
Your husband with you? No? Not
made the journey before? All! Not i
good table. Bad cook. Wretched at
tendance. Captain ought to look after il
better. Wife's just dead. Cut up about
it, they say. Very sorry. Can't be
helped Happen to us all some day
All w-this was at the entrance of a dish
the good smell of which Initiated his
nose, and put stop to further converse
ton. Miss Julia, whose appetite was still
poor, took the opportunity to look at the
Captain pleasant-faced, genial-looking
man, with no particular evidence of grief
in his face or manner. As she passed out
he spoke a few words to her. and after
ward during the ensuing week when they
met the same courteous little speech was
repeated.
As sometimes happens on voyage, none
of the passengers were disposed to be very
friendly after the usual exchange of civil
ties, each he or she went his or her way
leaving Miss Robinson to follow her own
devices.
One evening she was sitting on deck
beguiled by the lovely moon into remain.
ing later than usual, when the Captain
passed her, passed again, and this time
stopped;
Beautiful" she managed to answer.
The voice made him steal look at the
| face.
"Tm afraid he added more gently
you feel the time rather long. Not q
very interesting set of passengers ON board
is there? 1t happens so sometimes. Yor
don't care, perhaps, for the sea?'
Yes, very much l do. Oh, l think
Pm getting on very WE'LL" and she
smothered a sigh. When one is by one,
self it is only natural to feel little
lonely" and something she could not ac
count for made the tears, which lay very
close to her eyes, fall in quick downpour
GLOW excessively sillyp' she said vexedly
Nothing of the kind" and the Cap.
tain took a seat beside her at will dc
you good and you needn't mind me- The
poor little woman Eve lost used to say that
sometimes nothing relieved her like good
cry"
Miss Julia, ever ready with sympathy
thrust away her own troubles Immediately
You have Just lost your wife, they tel
me?' she said gently.
Well, not just she died eight months
ago, but this is the first voyage Eve made
since"
"Was she long ill?"
Eyes; all our married life she was more
or less laid by. She'd been married be-
fore she was married to me, and her hus.
bands death was a great shock to her
She never got over it, and then about
eighteen months ago the little girl she'd
been left with suddenly fell i'll, and faded
away, and that finished the poor mother.
She only lived little time after"
"That was sad. Sad for both of YOU
"Yes HE was leaning with his head
bent, looking down into the sea, speaking
to himself rather than to her-"I can
enter into the feeling of being lonely.
While she was there I'd somebody to
think of-to do things for. Now, what
ever happens, it's all the same" and he
sighed despondingly.
Miss Julia had the tact of true
woman. Without preaching she found a
few words of comfort to administer, and
this opened up further condolences be-
tween them; so that when Captain Stew
art babe her goodnight on her going be-
low he remained, saying to7l1imself:
81 quite misjudged her. The man she's
going out to marry is deuced lucky fell
low She's nice woman, that. One of
the right sort. My little Bessie would
have got on with her"
Dating from that evening quite a friend
ship sprang up between Captain Stewart
and Miss Julia. They chatted together
almost every night sitting on deck.
"The Captain seems very devoted" pas
sengers would say, glaneing at the two.
"Oh, but she's going out to be married T"
as she? Isn't it rather late in the